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Glossary of Terms You Should Know

The Below is a collection of terms that I have gathered from various resources including WebMd and various DHS type sites. The list is by no means complete and probably not totally alphabetized. If you have a term you think I should add, please leave a comment. I will be updating this list continuously. This list is just meant to help parents "in the system" understand what the heck everyone else is talking about!

Children with
ADHD generally have problems paying attention or concentrating. They can't seem
to follow directions and are easily bored or frustrated with tasks. They also
tend to move constantly and are impulsive, not stopping to think before they
act. These behaviors are generally common in children. But they occur more
often than usual and are more severe in a child with ADHD.

Adjustment disorders

a group of
mental and behavioral disorders in which the development of symptoms is related
the presence of some environmental stressor or life event and is expected to
remit when the stress ceases;

Affect

The emotional
feeling, tone, and mood attached to a thought, including its external
manifestations.

Aging Out:

When a youth leaves foster care because
they have reached age 21 without returning home or being adopted.

Agoraphobia

A mental
disorder characterized by an irrational fear of leaving the familiar setting of
home, or venturing into the open, so pervasive that a large number of external
life situations are entered into reluctantly or are avoided; often associated
with panic attacks.

Anorexia Nervosa

People have an intense fear of gaining weight and can become
dangerously thin. Signs of anorexia include less than normal weight, negative
body image, and obsession with food.

antisocial personality disorder

An enduring and
pervasive pattern characterized by continuous and chronic antisocial behavior
with disregard for and violation of the rights and safety of others, beginning
before the age of 15; early childhood signs include chronic lying, stealing,
fighting, and truancy; in adolescence there may be unusually early or
aggressive sexual behavior, excessive drinking, and use of illicit drugs, such
behavior continuing in adulthood.

Asperger disorder

A pervasive
developmental disorder characterized by severe and enduring impairment in
social skills and restrictive and repetitive behaviors and interests, leading
to impaired social and occupational functioning but without significant delays
in language development; however, constructs of Asperger disorder other than
those in DSM include the criteria of less social impairment than in autism and
in impaired communications.

Autism

Autism
is a neurologically based developmental disorder that affects several areas of
functioning including: social interactions, communication, abstract thought
processing, and executive functioning. As the name implies, these disorders
reside on a spectrum with many levels of severity. Individuals with autism
spectrum disorders (ASD) present with a wide range of strengths and weaknesses.
Autism is one of just five Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) defined in
the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR). PDDs are
characterized by significant impairments in social interaction and
communication. Individuals with autism may have difficulty in responding to
change or transition. They may exhibit over- or under-sensitivity to pain or
other sensory stimulation. Autism often results in deficits in imaginative play
and abstract thought. Parents report that the child with autism does not want
to be cuddled and that he or she avoids eye contact or demonstrates unusually
intense eye contact. Children with autism often become preoccupied with parts
of toys (the wheels of a truck), but rarely play with toys in the traditional
manner. Left untreated, the communication and sensory problems associated with
autism may result in tantruming or aggressive behaviors. In the past, autism
was defined as a rare disorder, but current estimates indicate that
approximately one in 500 children have an autism spectrum disorder. Recent
years have seen a dramatic increase in the diagnosis of autism spectrum
disorder. It is thought that at least some of this increase is due to
heightened awareness and improved diagnostics. The cause of autism spectrum
disorders is not known; however, there is evidence to suggest that there is a
genetic component. Early identification and early intervention can help
children with ASD reach their own unique potential.

Behavior therapy

a therapy based
on the concept that physical rather than mental events control overt behavior;
such behavior is analyzed and selected behavior is then modified using specific
techniques focusing on stimuli, conditioning, and learning, so as to improve
health and functioning. See: systematic desensitization, conditioning, learning
See also: cognitive therapy Cf.: psychotherapy

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness
that is characterized by extreme changes in mood, from mania to depression. It
can lead to risky behavior, damaged relationships and careers, and even
suicidal tendencies if it's not treated.

Borderline Personality Disorder

An enduring and pervasive pattern that
begins by early adulthood and is characterized by impulsivity and
unpredictability, unstable interpersonal relationships, inappropriate or
uncontrolled affect, especially anger, identity disturbances, rapid shifts of
mood, suicidal acts, self-mutilations, job and marital instability, chronic
feelings of emptiness or boredom, and intolerance of being alone.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia (say "boo-LEE-mee-uh") is a
type of eating disorder. People with bulimia will eat a
large amount of food in a short time (binge). Then they will do something to
get rid of the food (purge). They may vomit, exercise too much, or use medicines like
laxatives.

People who have bulimia may binge because food
gives them a feeling of comfort. But eating too much makes them feel out of
control. After they binge, they feel ashamed, guilty, and afraid of gaining
weight. This causes them to purge.

CBCT:Cognitively Based Compassion Training: Appears to improve the mental and physical health of adolescents in
foster care. CBCT is a tool that provides strategies for people to
develop more compassionate attitudes toward themselves and others.

Cease Reunification:

The court decides that since the biological parents did not
do what was required of them for the child to go home, the Department is no
longer required to provide reunification services for the purpose of the child
returning to their biological parent’s home.

Cerebral
palsy

A
non-hereditary condition which results from brain damage before, during, or
after birth. Children with cerebral palsy lack muscle control in one or more
parts of their bodies or may experience speech and language difficulties,
depending on the area of the brain damaged. Individuals with cerebral palsy can
possess very normal mental functions.

Court Appointed Special Advocate: (also known as CASA) An adult volunteer, assigned by the court to
study and protect the best interests of a youth in a civil or criminal abuse or
neglect case. The CASA and the youth should talk on an ongoing basis. The CASA
is your voice in the courtroom.

CMHC

Abbreviation for community mental health
center.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

a broadening of
behavior therapy to include consideration of cognitive processes and use
specific techniques for teaching cognitive skills that help the patient
adaptively perceive, interpret, and respond to the environment. See also:
cognitive therapy, psychotherapy

Countertransference

In
psychoanalysis, the analyst's transference (often unconscious) to the patient
of emotional needs and conflicts from the analyst's past experiences or the
analyst's current emotional responses to the manifestation of the patient's
transference.

De
facto

A term meaning
"in actual fact", "in deed" or "actually",
regardless of legal or normative standards. In a legal context, the phrase
refers to an action or a state of affairs which must be accepted for all
practical purposes, but which has no legal basis. A "de facto family"
is a "psychological family" in which members have ties to each other
even though they are relatives by birth or marriage and do not have a legal
document recognizing their relationship.

De
facto adoption

A legal agreement to adopt a child
according to the laws of a particular State which will result in a legal
adoption process once the adoption petition is filed with the appropriate
court; an equitable adoption.

Delusion

A false belief
or wrong judgment, sometimes associated with hallucinations, held with
conviction despite evidence to the contrary.

depersonalization

A state in
which one loses the feeling of one's own identity in relation to others in
one's family or peer group, or loses the feeling of one's own reality.

Developmental Disabilities (DD)

A
developmental disability is one that is attributed to mental retardation,
autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy or a specific learning disability, or any
other closely related condition that originates before the age of twenty-two,
has continued or can be expected to continue indefinitely, and constitutes a
severe handicap to the individual's ability to function normally in society.

Disposition:

This is the decision about where the youth should live (such
as in state custody), as well as what the parents, DHS and the youth must do to
change the problems. Please understand that sometimes court hearings are
continued and changed to another date for various reasons. For instance,
someone may not show up, or everyone at court may feel it’s a good idea.

dissociation

Separation, or
a dissolution of relations. For the following chemical, biochemical, and
psychiatric senses, avoid substituting the misspelling/mispronunciation dissociation. Syn: disassociation

Down
syndrome

A genetic
disorder (caused by the presence of an extra chromosome), which results in
physical and mental abnormalities. Physical characteristics include a flattened
face, widely spaced and slanted eyes, smaller head size and lax joints. Mental
retardation is also typical, though there are wide variations in mental
ability, behavior, and developmental progress. Possible related health problems
include poor resistance to infection, hearing loss, gastrointestinal problems,
and heart defects.

Early Intervention Services (EI)

Early
Intervention services are those that are provided to children less than
thirty-six months of age who meet state eligibility criteria. Appropriate Early
Intervention services must be tailored to meet the unique needs of the eligible
infant or toddler and his or her family. These services must be designed in
collaboration with the family to enhance both the development of the child and
the family's capacity to meet the needs of the child.

Emancipation:

A youth who is
legally declared an adult (by a court) prior to age 18. A youth in foster care
who emanicipates is no longer a ward of the court (or in foster care).

Emotional
disturbance

Severe,
pervasive or chronic emotional/affective condition which prevents a child from
performing everyday tasks. This condition is characterized by an inability to
build or maintain relationships, inappropriate behaviors or feelings under
normal circumstances, a pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression, or a
tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears related to personal or school
problems. Children may require special classrooms and teachers trained to help
children with these special needs. School systems may have varying
"levels" and processes for educational planning.

Fetal
alcohol effect (FAE)

A disorder
associated with cognitive and behavioral difficulties in children whose birth
mothers drank alcohol while pregnant. Symptoms are similar to fetal alcohol
syndrome (FAS) but less severe or comprehensive.

Fetal
alcohol syndrome (FAS)

Birth defects,
and serious life-long mental and emotional impairments that may result from
heavy maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Symptoms of mental and
emotional deficits may include significant learning and behavioral disorders
(including attention deficits and hyperactivity), diminished cause-and-effect
thinking, poor social judgment, and impulsive behaviors.

Fictive
kin

People not
related by birth or marriage who have an emotionally-significant relationship
with an individual.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

exaggerated anxiety
and worry about everyday life events with no obvious reasons for worry. People
with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder tend to always expect disaster
and can't stop worrying about health, money, family, work, or
school. In people with GAD, the worry is often unrealistic or out of proportion
for the situation. Daily life becomes a constant state of worry, fear, and
dread. Eventually, the anxiety so dominates the person's thinking that it
interferes with daily functioning, including work, school, social activities,
and relationships.

Guardian ad Litem (GAL):

An adult volunteer, assigned by the court to study and
protect the best interests of a youth in a civil or criminal abuse or neglect
case. The GAL and the youth should talk on an ongoing basis. The GAL is your
voice in the courtroom.

Guardianship:

When an adult is granted parental rights
for a youth.

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

The
IEP is a written document that is developed by a team that includes the
professionals involved in the child's education and the parents. The IEP must
contain present levels of educational performance; annual goals including benchmarks
or short-term objectives; and a listing of the special education and related
services that are required to meet the child's needs including the dates,
frequency, location, and duration of services. The IEP must be reviewed at
least annually. It can be updated sooner if the child's needs change.

Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)

The
IFSP is a written document developed by a multidisciplinary team that includes
the family as a primary participant. Every child and family is assigned to a
service coordinator who is responsible for helping them navigate the EI
Services System and who coordinates eligibility determination and service plan
development. The IFSP describes the child's developmental levels in all areas;
the family's resources, priorities, and concerns relating to enhancing the
development of their child; and the services to be received, including the
frequency, intensity, and method of delivering services. In addition, the IFSP
must contain a statement of the natural environments in which early
intervention services will occur. Projected dates for service initiation and
duration must be given. The IFSP must be reviewed at least every six months and
updated following annual assessments. It can be updated sooner if the child's
needs change.

ILP: Abbreviation for
Independent Living Program.

Independent Living:

An approved type of living arrangement in
which a child who is at least 16 years old resides with a relative, friends, in
a dorm or in his or her own apartment without the day-to-day supervision of an
adult.

Independent Living Program (ILP):

A federally funded program providing
services to foster youth age 14 or16 and over to prepare for adulthood. This
program provides classes in life skills, vocational training, and equipment
needed for job training. Also provides funds for college scholarships, skills
training, and rent assistance.

Independent
Living Skills Case-worker:

A Department of Human Services’
Caseworker who provides services to youth in state custody who are 16 and
older, and whose treatment plan goal is independent living. Services are to
help youth learn to live on their own.

Individual Service Plan (ISP):

A written
document describing long range goals and short range objectives for the
provision of service for a foster youth

Intermittent explosive disorder (IED).

Intermittent explosive disorder is characterized
by repeated episodes of aggressive, violent behavior in which you react grossly
out of proportion to the situation. Road rage, domestic abuse, and angry outbursts
or temper tantrums that involve throwing or breaking objects may be signs of
intermittent explosive disorder .

People with intermittent explosive disorder may
attack others and their possessions, causing bodily injury and property damage.
Later, people with intermittent explosive disorder may feel remorse, regret or
embarrassment.

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

LRE
is the setting that least restricts opportunities for a child with disabilities
to be with their peers without disabilities. The law mandates that every child
with a disability be educated in a Least Restrictive Environment.

Maltreatment

Physical abuse,
child neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. Federal CAPTA legislation
(P.L. 104-235) provides definitions that identify a minimum set of acts or
behaviors that characterize maltreatment. Each State is responsible for
providing its own definitions of child abuse and neglect within the State's
civil and criminal context. Child Abuse and Neglect, according to the Federal
legislation, is at a minimum: Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a
parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm,
sexual abuse or exploitation An act or failure to act which presents an
imminent risk of serious harm Child abuse and neglect typically includes
physical as well as emotional abuse (which causes psychological or mental
injury), in addition to various types of neglect. Sexual Abuse is defined in
the Federal definition as: The employment, use, persuasion, inducement,
enticement, or coercion of any child to engage in, or assist any other person
to engage in, any sexually explicit conduct or simulation on such conduct for
the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct The rape, and in
cases of caretaker or inter-familial relationships, statutory rape,
molestation, prostitution, or other form of sexual exploitation of children, or
incest with children.

Munchausen syndrome is a mental disorder
that is characterized by the sufferer causing or pretending to have physical or
psychological symptoms in his or herself. It is thought to be motivated only by
a desire to be seen as ill rather than by avoiding responsibility, financial
gain, improving his or her physical condition, or some other benefit, as is
true in malingering. Research outcomes differ in terms of identifying groups
that are susceptible to developing the disorder. Some statistics indicate that
women with health training may be more vulnerable to developing Munchausen
syndrome, particularly when it presents with physical symptoms. However, it is
thought by other investigators that men and women experience Munchausen
syndrome in equal frequency.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a
type of mental illness that causes repeated unwanted thoughts. To get rid of
the thoughts, a person does the same tasks over and over. For example, you may
fear that everything you touch has germs on it. So to ease that fear, you wash
your hands over and over again.

Occupational Therapy (OT)

OT
is a therapy or treatment provided by an occupational therapist that helps
individual development of physical skills that will aid in daily living. It
focuses on sensory integration; balance and coordination of movement; and fine
motor and self-help skills such as dressing, eating with a fork and spoon, etc.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

ODD is a condition in which a
child displays an ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, hostile, and
annoying behavior toward people in authority. The child's behavior often
disrupts the child's normal daily activities, including activities within the
family and at school.

Panic Disorder

Panic
disorder is different from the normal fear and anxiety reactions to
stressful events in our lives. Panic disorder is a serious condition that
strikes without reason or warning. Symptoms of panic disorder include sudden
attacks of fear and nervousness, as well as physical symptoms such as sweating
and a racing heart. During a panic attack, the fear response is out of
proportion for the situation, which often is not threatening. Over time, a
person with panic disorder develops a constant fear of having another panic
attack, which can affect daily functioning and general quality of life.

Physical Therapy (PT)

A
treatment of physical disabilities given by a trained physical therapist (under
doctor's orders) that includes the use of massage, exercise, etc., to remediate
mobility and gait and to modify strength, balance, tone, and posture and help
the person improve the use of bones, muscles, joints, and nerves.

Permanency Planning:

The case-worker coordinates
services for the youth and family to fix the problems that led to the youth’s
placement in state custody. The goal is to assure a long-term placement for the
youth. This may be going home, staying in long-term foster care until age 18 or
21, or being placed for adoption.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), once
called shell shock or battle fatigue syndrome, is a serious condition that can
develop after a person has experienced or witnessed a traumatic or terrifying
event in which serious physical harm occurred or was threatened. PTSD is a
lasting consequence of traumatic ordeals that cause intense fear, helplessness,
or horror, such as a sexual or physical assault, the unexpected death of a
loved one, an accident, war, or natural disaster. Families of victims can also
develop PTSD, as can emergency personnel and rescue workers.

PAS/ISC
agencies are contracted community agencies located throughout Illinois. They provide
Pre-Admission Screenings to verify that individuals with developmental
disabilities meet criteria for Medicaid-reimbursed services. Additionally, they
provide Individual Service Coordination to assist families and individuals with
developmental disabilities with information, introduction, coordination, and
linkage to services and supports delivered by direct services providers.

Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)

Reactive attachment disorder (RAD) is a
condition found in children who have received grossly negligent care and do not
form a healthy emotional attachment with their primary caregivers -- usually
their mothers -- before age 5.

Respite Care

Respite
is temporary, short-term care provided to individuals with disabilities.
Services can be delivered in the individual's home for a few hours or in an
alternate licensed setting for an extended period of time. Respite care allows
caregivers to take a break in order to relieve and prevent stress and fatigue.

Residential
Service Plan (RSP):

A plan describing past behavior problems,
with goals and reinforcement information to eliminate the unwanted behavior.

Reunification:

Services that can bring a family back
together by working on the problems that caused the separation of the youth
from the family.

Ritalin

A commonly prescribed drug that can help
to control some of the symptoms of attention deficit disorder. It may have a
calming effect and help to improve concentration.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia symptoms include distorted
thoughts and hallucinations. Usually starting in young adulthood, schizophrenia
can also cause the sufferer to feel frightened and paranoid. To make a
schizophrenia diagnosis, a psychiatrist evaluates symptoms, tests, and medical
history, and prescribes medications and possibly psychotherapy (or other types
of talk therapy) for proper schizophrenia treatment. New research is helping us
understand this disorder better.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

Schizoid personality disorder is one of a
group of conditions called "Cluster 'A' " or eccentric personality
disorders. People with these disorders often appear odd or peculiar. People
with schizoid personality disorder also tend to be distant, detached, and
indifferent to social relationships. They generally are loners who prefer
solitary activities and rarely express strong emotion. Although their names
sound alike and they might have some similar symptoms, schizoid personality
disorder is not the same thing as schizophrenia. Many people with schizoid
personality disorder are able to function fairly well, although they tend to
choose jobs that allow them to work alone, such as night security officers,
library, or lab workers.

Sensory Integration Therapy (SI)

SI
is a therapy designed for individuals with sensory integration deficits; this
can include one or more of the senses. The goal is to improve an individual's
ability to use incoming sensory information appropriately and encourage
tolerance of a variety of sensory inputs.

Special
needs children

Children whose
emotional or physical disorders, age, race, membership in a sibling group, a
history of abuse, or other factors contribute to a lengthy stay in foster care.
Guidelines for classifying a child as special needs vary by State. Common
special needs conditions and diagnoses include: serious medical conditions;
emotional and behavioral disorders; history of abuse or neglect; medical or
genetic risk due to familial mental illness or parental substance abuse.

Speech/Language Therapy

Speech/language
therapy is provided by a speech therapist or speech and language pathologist
with the goal of improving an individual's ability to communicate. This
includes verbal and nonverbal communication. The treatment is specific to the
individual's need.

Termination of Parental Rights (TPR): If family reunification has been ruled
out and adoption is a possibility for the child, the Department may petition
(request) for termination of parents’ rights to the child. If the court terminates
parental rights it means the child is free for adoption. It also means that
your biological parents have no legal rights pertaining to you anymore. (They
don’t have access to information about you, don’t work with your caseworker
anymore, etc.)

Tourette Syndrome

Tourette Syndrome is a hereditary neurological movement disorder
that is characterized by repetitive motor and vocal tics. Symptoms may include
involuntary movements of the extremities, shoulders, and face accompanied by
uncontrollable sounds and, in some cases, inappropriate words. Tourette
Syndrome is neither a progressive nor degenerative disorder; rather, symptoms
tend to be variable and follow a chronic waxing and waning course throughout an
otherwise normal life span. The specific symptoms associated with Tourette
Syndrome often vary greatly from case to case. The exact cause of Tourette
Syndrome is unknown.

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